Henrich presented a proposal for an additional Police Officer to the City Council that included:

• Cost to the City of Winsted for the addition of a fourth Police Officer

• The benefits to the City of Winsted with an additional Police Officer

• The scheduling options

• The additional cost of the Chief’s Coverage option schedule

Quast asked how many hours are spent training a new Police Officer. Henrich stated that an experienced Police Officer takes approximately one month to train.

An inexperienced Police Officer takes approximately two to three months to train.

Boldt asked Henrich what Emergency Management Services(EMS) duties he is responsible for. Henrich replied that he is required to have an annual emergency drill, keep the EMS manual for the City of Winsted updated, and maintain the civil defense sirens.

Guggemos stated the importance of having Henrich available at City Hall from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during regular business hours.

Quast inquired as to the cost effectiveness of having an additional Police Officer as opposed to having increased secretarial staff for the Police Department. Henrich clarified that the Police Department needs additional assistance with traffic enforcement and investigations.

Quast asked if the City could wait until spring to hire the fourth officer. Henrich explained that summer is a busy time of year for the Police Department and it would be more efficient to have the fourth officer trained and able to be on their own by summer.

Ollig commented that Henrich’s requests to the Council have always had merit. Ollig stated that as the community continues to grow and crime increases, there is a need for a fourth officer.

Wiemiller requested that Mike prepare a schedule for the Council that would outline the hiring process and present it at the December 21st, 2004 Council meeting.

Boldt recommended that Mike and staff review the 2005 proposed budget to find areas that the budget could be decreased to increase funding for a fourth officer.

Quast motioned to accept the Regular City Council Meeting minutes of November 16, 2004 with the two amendments. Ollig seconded. Motion carried 4-0.

c) Adopt Resolution 436-12-07-04 entering into a cooperative agreement with the Office of Justice Programs in the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

d) Approve the Claims List for December 7, 2004 as presented.

3) No Special Presentations.

4) Quarterly Reports

a) Public Works Department

Stotko reported on the following:

• Attended training and a maintenance expo

• Flushed hydrants

• Removed debris from water tower tank

• Swept all streets for leaves

• Trimmed trees

• Planted 53 boulevard trees

• Put downtown flower boxes in storage

• Installed park equipment and fencing

• Closed parks and park restrooms for the season

• Prepared and installed holiday decorations

• Replaced summer banners with winter banners

• Fixed broken water valves

• Excavating at airport for new transformer

• Finished all blacktop street repairs

• Installed footings for civil defense siren at Winsted on the Lake

• Trucks serviced for snowplowing

• Dump trucks D.O.T. inspected and certified

• Cleaned all trucks

• Had sand/salt delivered

• Meeting with part-time snow plowing personnel

Stotko and Meyer reviewed the snowplowing schedule for the City of Winsted.

Ollig asked about major projects planned for 2005. Stotko and Meyer discussed the need for a street sweeper. They also reviewed their plans to replace City of Winsted resident’s existing water meters with radio read water meters. The Public Works Department will begin with the homes where residents have past due accounts and/or are not returning a water meter reading to City Hall each month.

5) Public Hearings

a) Truth-In-Taxation  2005 Budget and Levy

Mareck explained that the Truth-In-Taxation hearing is available for any City of Winsted resident who may have any questions or comments on their 2005 property taxes.

Guggemos commented on the increase to 2005 property taxes due to the Howard Lake/Waverly/Winsted(HLWW) School District and McLeod County. The City of Winsted portion of property taxes decreased in 2005.

Marcella Quast, 221-3rd Street South, Winsted, Minnesota, asked for an explanation regarding the increase to her property taxes. Guggemos reviewed Marcella Quast’s tax statement and showed her where the HLWW School District’s, McLeod County’s, and the City of Winsted’s portion were listed on the statement and verified that the City of Winsted’s portion of the property tax had not increased. Marcella Quast had no further comment.

b) Ordinance Amendment  Intoxicating Liquor Ordinance

Mareck explained that the request to amend the Intoxicating Liquor Ordinance to allow for intoxicating liquor sales until 2:00 a.m. was made by Jeff Fuerstenberg of Bailey’s Tavern & Grill. Fuerstenberg based his request on the Hollywood Ranch House, located in Hollywood Township, which has been issued a license that allows them to serve intoxicating liquor until 2:00 a.m. The next establishment closet to Winsted that serves until 2:00 a.m. is a bar in Mayer.

Mareck invited current licensed liquor establishments in the City of Winsted to attend the public hearing. The owner of Tom’s Corner Bar and Keg’s Bar called Mareck and stated that he is not interested in staying open until 2:00 a.m. Mareck reviewed the memo from Police Chief Henrich regarding his concerns with any of the licensed liquor establishments remaining open until 2:00 a.m.

Ollig stated that since there was no other licensed liquor establishments from the City of Winsted represented at the public hearing asking to remain open until 2:00 a.m., he would be more in favor of not amending the ordinance. Ollig stated that he does not feel it would benefit the Winsted community to have the licensed liquor establishments remain open until 2:00 a.m. Ollig stated that he would take no action to amend the Ordinance.

Wiemiller stated he would take no action to amend the Ordinance.

Quast stated she would take no action to amend the Ordinance.

Boldt stated he would take no action to amend the Ordinance due to the concerns of Henrich’s memo.

Gerald Heinen,141-5th Street South, Winsted, Minnesota, was in attendance at the public hearing and stated that he would not approve of Bailey’s Tavern & Grill remaining open until 2:00 a.m. because of the disturbance it would cause to the neighboring homeowners.

Gretchen Anderson, 816-6th Street North, Winsted, Minnesota, was in attendance at the public hearing and stated that she would approve of the Ordinance being amended to allow Bailey’s Tavern & Grill to remain open until 2:00 a.m.

Mareck explained that the proposed amendment would change the industrial fencing requirement for maximum height from 6 feet to 8 feet. In addition, the proposed amendment eliminates language that requires barbed wire when installed to face the interior of the property.

Mareck reminded the Council that 8 feet industrial fencing is only allowed in industrial areas and will require a Conditional Use Permit(CUP).

Mareck presented a request from CPS Scherping for a Conditional Use Permit(CUP) to install barbed wire fencing on their property. The Fence Ordinance requires a CUP to install barbed wire fencing, but does not allow its placement to an adjacent residential zoning district. CPS Scherping is not immediately adjacent to a residential zoning district and the area where the proposed fence is to be placed borders a mini-storage business.

Bill Fynboh, 357 South Shore Drive, Winsted, Minnesota, contacted the City and asked that CPS Scherping include landscaping along the north end of their property to block the view of the fence. Dan Dickhausen, a representative of CPS Sherping, reported to the Council that he discussed the landscaping issue with Fynboh and they reached a mutual agreement on the landscaping that will be completed by CPS Scherping.

Quast motioned to grant CPS Scherping a Conditional Use Permit to install barbed wire fencing as presented in their site plan. Boldt seconded. Motioned carried 4-0.

6) Old Business

a) Engineering Report  Generator  Larry Anderson (SEH)

Anderson presented a proposal for a standby power generator for the Kingsley Lift Station to allow the lift station to operate in the event that there is an electrical power outage.

The estimated cost of the generator recommended by SEH is $100,000. The City of Winsted applied for, and received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. A grant of $75,000 will be provided, with the City supplying $25,000 as the grantees share. Anderson reported that the money budgeted through the grant will cover the cost of the proposed generator.

Guggemos requested that the generator be installed in a position that is aesthetically pleasing to the public and can be landscaped. Anderson researched the property where the generator will be installed and verified that the land is all public right away. This will allow staff to install the generator in an area that is somewhat hidden and able to be landscaped.

Wiemiller requested that the generator not block the view to the lake. Anderson stated that plans can require that contractors excavate the area to allow for the generator to be installed deeper into the ground.

Anderson reported that the next step would be to finalize construction plans and specifications, and submit to the Council for review.

Boldt motioned to authorize SEH to finalize the plans and specifications for the standby power generator at the Kingsley Lift Station. Wiemiller seconded. Motion carried 4-0.

Guggemos reviewed a letter he received from Crow River Organization of Water(C.R.O.W.) with the Council, Anderson, and staff regarding a meeting that addresses the monitoring of the water quality in cities located along the Crow River.

Anderson reviewed the letter and explained that the C.R.O.W. is monitoring the water quality and what each City along the Crow River is doing to stop phosphorous from being discharged into the River.

Guggemos explained the City of Winsted’s requirements from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency(PCA) to treat phosphorous.

b) Sale of Fire Trucks  Winsted Fire Department

Ollig motioned to accept the recommendation of the Winsted Fire Department to approve the bid of $1,363.00 for the 1963 Ford 700 fire truck and $2,163.00 for the 1975 Ford F700 3208 Caterpillar Diesel fire truck as submitted by Bill Wasner. Quast seconded. Motion carried 4-0.

7) New Business

a) Purchase Agreement  Herald Journal Publishing

Mareck presented a proposal to sell a land remnant adjacent to the Herald Journal property located at County Road 1 and Main Avenue West. The property itself could not serve independently as a building site and the Herald Journal will use the area to assist in their current property development.

The purchase price of the property is $2,500. This value is based on the price of the City of Winsted property that was previously sold to the Herald Journal.

Mareck stated that Eggert has reviewed and approved the purchase agreement as presented.

Quast motioned to enter into a purchase agreement with the Herald Journal for the north 60 feet of the southerly 256.0 feet and the west 40 feet of the east 262.17 feet of Tract A of Register Land Survey No. 30 for $2,500. Boldt seconded. Motion carried 4-0.

b) Expenditure Boss V-Plow  Public Works Department

Meyer presented a proposal for a new snowplow. The existing snowplow is in need of costly repairs. When requesting pricing for repairs, Meyer found that it would be more cost effective to buy a new snowplow instead of repairing the existing snowplow.

Wiemiller asked if the existing snowplow has any value. Meyer reported that Crysteel Truck Equipment is taking the existing snowplow as a trade in at the value of $1,100.

Mareck gave a presentation on the action plan that has been developed and proposed for the City of Winsted as a result of the “Spotlight on Winsted” visit by the Minnesota Design Team.

The action plan addressed short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals.

The action plan indicated as a goal the need to develop a concept plan for a City Center building. SEH has provided the City with a quote for $3,500 to develop a concept plan with the help of a steering committee.

Ollig motioned to expend $3,500 to SEH to develop a concept plan for a City Center building. Quast seconded. Motion carried 4-0.

Ollig motioned to close the Truth-In-Taxation public hearing. Boldt seconded. Motion carried 4-0.

9) Other

a) Derrick Derfus, 324 Westgate Circle, Winsted, Minnesota, was present at the City Council meeting to discuss a question regarding his utility bill. City staff assisted Derfus and answered his question.